Pet Therapy At Middlewoods of Farmington

When we think about pet therapy, we often think of our four-legged, furry friends. But what about the joy many derive from birds? A number of our residents have their own birds or enjoy caring for the “community” birds. At Wesley Heights, checking up on the zebra finches is a popular activity! They hop around in the cage, responding to residents. Residents and staff alike take responsibility for caring for the birds. It is nice for residents to have something to care for; to be needed.

At Middlewoods of Farmington, Sunny is practically considered a resident! The bright yellow parakeet belongs to a resident and shares a space on his walker. Sunny comes down for activities and regular visits with residents and staff. At mealtimes, Sunny waits outside the dining room and residents enjoy greeting him going to and from their meals. When his owner was out of the community for short-term rehabilitation, Sunny became a temporary resident at the Reception Desk where staff helped care for him. Understanding that Sunny missed his owner (and vice versa), the Receptionist regularly called his owner on the phone, put the earpiece next to Sunny’s cage and let them “talk”.

Not only do we appreciate the birds that live with us, we also enjoy the opportunity to have other birds come in. We’ve had rescued birds, birds of prey programs and regularly have bird watching activities. For some, bird watching has become a new hobby so bird identification books and binoculars are available for more information and for a close-up look.

Pets at assisted living centers can improve the quality of life for residents. Even birds like Sunny can brighten anyone's day. For more information about how UMH creates a positive atmosphere for it's residents, visit our communities page, or contact us for more information!

About Elizabeth Bemis

In 1998, I drove past an assisted living community construction site, learned that it was part of United Methodist Homes and realized the next stop on my professional journey was to work for a mission driven organization. Soon after, I joined the team as Executive Director of our Middlewoods of Farmington community and later served as Regional Manager for the Middlewoods properties before accepting my current role as Vice President of Marketing, Promotions, and Assisted Living Operations. I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, reading, walking, and love working alongside our staff, residents, and families to build strong communities that reflect the mission, vision, and values of United Methodist Homes.

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